The Commission on Elections (Comelec) said seven individuals filed their certificates of candidacies for the vacant second congressional district of Antipolo City as of 7 February 2026.

The candidates who filed for the special election are Dandin Infante, Reden Llaga, LJ Sumulong (incumbent city councilor), Maria Trinidad Cafirma, Bong Acop, Nathaniel Lobigas, and Paulo Tapales (incumbent city councilor).

The Comelec will hold the special election in the district after the December 2025 passing of Rep. Romeo Acop.

The poll body said it will once again implement its early voting hours program for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) during the special elections scheduled on 14 March 2026.

Comelec Chairperson George Erwin Garcia said the early voting period from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. will be exclusive for these vulnerable sectors.

“On 14 March, we will once again implement the successful program of early voting hours. Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and pregnant women can exclusively vote from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m.,” Garcia said.

The poll chief said more than four million senior citizens, PWDs, and pregnant women benefited from the program during the May 2025 midterm elections.

He added that Comelec will also enforce the early voting hours program in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections on 2 November 2026.

“We will no longer have a distinction whether it’s a manual or automated election. We will have an early voting hours program,” Garcia said.

He also said that persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) in the second district of Antipolo City will be allowed to vote in the special elections.

Garcia said Comelec has coordinated with the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) to make arrangements for qualified PDLs who are registered voters in the district.

“For our humanitarian act and to show that no one should be left behind in exercising the right to vote, they will also be allowed to vote as long as they are qualified and registered voters in the second district of Antipolo,” Garcia said.

He earlier noted that the Constitution requires Comelec to conduct a special election in the event of a vacancy in Congress, with the polls to be held within 60 days after the post was vacated, but not later than 90 days.